Ted Cohen, Senior Vice President, Digital Development & Distribution, EMI Music, says “There are labels who get it, but digital has more of a voice at the table than it ever has. I showed Warner the Net in 1996. They got it. But at the time AOL was metered by the hour.

“Now it’s about consumer control. User created mixes and playlist trading. Things will find their audience. For most people iTunes works, and you can’t fight that.”

With unlimited shelf space, this leaves room for boutiques who specialise in genres.

Such as? “Jazz sites, Blues sites. Any genre where someone give you expert editorial and direction will work.”

For instance The Essentials section on the Amazon store can guide people to getting into a genre.